The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1887-02-02

close up to Muricl, Itch me what you
think about this affair
II think that YOU have shot some
one. replied Muriel, awakening par
tally from the trance-like feeling
which had crcpt over her.
s,You are right Tonight became
the murderer of Fred. Warner.
Fred. Warner is my husband, and !
was on the river listening to his voice.
she said in the same calm tone.
you win listen TO his voice no more.
The woman that he brought to Rocky
hill is my wife. =
And then Muriel knew the name OF
the man who had rowed her boat that
night
1t was Ralph Resseguie, the banker
and the millionaire, whose home and
happiness her husband had ruined.
She had never met him before, but
she had heard often of his generosity
and of his great wealth.
"tiod have mercy tonight upon four
of his miserable creatures, she said
Still calmly.
Three corrected Resseguie, grim
ly. ..Muriel Warner / know the entire
l.
l was hunting your husband down !
ask no sympathy. ] have done delib-
crate murder | do not wish you to
conceal the mode of my escape Fred.
Warner was your husband. He would
have returned to you after time /
have made this impossible. You have
neither home nor friends. Ihave money,
the accursed stuff with which bought
my false wife. In a short time | shall
be hung for this murder. | have no
relatives upon whom to bestow my
wealth. 1t win all 60 to strangers.
Accept this packet, then; it is yours to
do with as YOU think best, and ! cannot
but be thankful for the chance which
has thrown You in my way
A packet dropped into Muriel Warn
er's lap as these words were spoken.
The boat rocked slightly as the tall fig
ure sprang upon the shore, and then
she was alone in the darkness upon the
river.
After this she wandered about the
world, woman whose life and feel
ings seemed benumbed forever. She
knew what had happened at Rocky hill,
but she had no desire to return there
and gaze upon the dead face OF her
husband. She had no wish to return
to the friends who had grown cold
when misfortune come upon her. She
knew that Ralph Resseguie had made
her wealthy woman, but she felt none
of the scruples which she once would
have felt about accepting his money.
She never spoke of that night in the
boat with any to whom she came in
contact.
She never heard whether Ralph Res
seguie was captured or not. She never
knew what became of his miserable
wife.
Her past life seemed half forgotten
dream, and she was only dimly con-
scious of the reality of anything.
At thirty-five years OF age Muriel
Warner was u beautiful and cultured
woman. She had visited nearly all the
countries of the Old World. Acquaint-
ances she made. but never friends. and
these often wondered when in reply to
their inquiries she would say:
II never read u newspaper. never
write nor receive a letter.
But her time of awakening came,
and the one to stir the dormant emo.
tons of her woman's heart was a
stranger, and man.
1t was at the Bahama Island where
she first met Norman Van Ness.
He was forty years of age-a Her.
cules in the fullness of his manhood,
and h seemed to be attracted, nay, to
love ler from the very first.
Her deep blue eyes soon grew to
watch for him, and became soft and
tender beneath the light in his dark
ones, and with the growth Of her new
love many of the feelings of her youth
came back to her.
Father and mother, long forgotten.
became dear once more to her, and
often she caught herself thinking.
If he ever speaks, and if after l
have told him all. we are ever mar
ried, will get him to take me home to
my parents.
But he did not speak. Weeks grew
into months. and the longed-for love-
words never came. Muriel's heart
again began quiveriIlg with pain. She
knew not that its numbness had de-
parted forever.
Sometimes she felt that she ought to
move on; to get away from influences
which more likely would prove sadden-
ing to her. but she could not at once
bring herself to do this.
/. While she was debating the subject in
her mind the crisis came
A storm had been sweeping over the
Bahamas, vessel was going to pieces
upon the reef. Muriel was out upon
the wave-washed shore, her eyes bright
and her cheeks rosy with excitement
Her golden brown hair had been zoos
ened by the driving wind, and she was
that rare but delicious creature. a
woman beautiful when she is mature
Norman Van Ness was by her side,
and Muriel expressed wish to row
out near to the life-saving boats.
which were battling with the waves
and overladen with human beings
whom they had rescued in a half
drowned state.
Let me be your boatman.' pleaded
Van Ness, and Muriel could not rcpress
her thoughts which whispered to her
of that long-forgotten night when her
husbands murderer had been her boat
man.
The strong man took his place at the
oars. Out over the waters they rowed
together. the dreadful past rising so
strong before the woman that she had
no thought of the man so near her.
"Mmiel," said he. in a low voice;
"Muriel, Muriel, ] love you, but | have
no right to say these words to you.
Muriel, have you never thought that /